Sea-Sound Motel

Sea-Sound Motel is a small, independently run motel in Rodanthe, the first of the three closely grouped villages — Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo — at the northern end of Hatteras Island, inside Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

NC-12 is the only road connecting Rodanthe to the rest of the island, running south through Avon and Buxton to Hatteras village, where a free NC ferry continues on to Ocracoke Island. That single-road layout is part of what makes Hatteras Island different from the beaches further north: NC-12 floods and closes during storms with some regularity, and the risk is highest in the August-through-October hurricane window. Shoulder season — April-May and September-October — tends to be quieter and more predictable for a stay here.

4x4/ORV beach driving is permitted on much of Hatteras Island with an NPS permit, and Buxton's Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest brick lighthouse in the country, is a common day-trip stop from Rodanthe (it's currently closed for climbing). For current rates, room details, and availability, check the motel's website or call ahead.